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| Saturday 15th January 2005 |
Ryman League Premier Division |
Stephen McCartney reports from Hoverspeed Stadium |
| Dover Athletic | 1 | Dean Palmer 81 |
| Kingstonian | 2 | Kenny Ojukwa 24 Giles Coke 58 |
Parmenter wields the axe
STEVE BROWNE - the man that sent Dover Athletic to
the foot of the Ryman Premier Division with fifteen games to go - was relieved
of his duties within minutes of the final whistle following their 2-1 loss to
the side they replaced at the bottom, Kingstonian.
Dover chairman Jim Parmenter admitted the decision to part company with the
former Slough Town, Boreham Wood and Hemel Hempstead manager was made prior to
kick off ahead of this MUST win clash.
Parmenter said: "The board made the decision if things didn't go for us
today then we would need to take a fresh look of what's going on and try bring
something in to lift the club."
And a lift is something that is desperately needed for the club's long suffering
but loyal fans.
It is amazing to think that just five years ago both Dover and Kingstonian
pushed eventual Conference champions Kidderminster Harriers all the way when
they finished in the top six ahead of sides such as Yeovil Town and Doncaster
Rovers, with the K's going on to be victorious at Wembley in the FA Trophy to
retain their silverware.
But the Walthamstow based manager won only once from thirteen league games
whilst in charge, collecting only six points in the process and the Hoverspeed
Stadium outfit look to appoint their fourth manager of the season that has only
brought four wins in 31 competitive games during this depressing campaign.
Parmenter, however, is going to announce their next manager in the next couple
of days.
"We've still got a lot of work off the field. Part of that work is
income from gates and sponsors, but we need to make sure we're providing some
entertainment for those supporters and sponsors." he said.
"It's all part of the same package. The on-field performances affect
the off-field performances of the club."
Parmenter hasn't given up hope of retaining their premier division status.
He added: "You've got to keep fighting, strange things happen.
"Theoretically four go down from this league but we've all seen situations
where club's choose not to come up or their grounds don't meet criteria or
there's a financial problem and therefore you survive for that reason.
"We are going to keep fighting. We are not making this change because
we've written this season off. Hopefully I'll make an announcement early
part of next week as to whose coming into the club and that will demonstrate to
everybody that we are actually in this to build things on the field."
Dover goalkeeper, Paul Hyde, however, was stunned to hear the decision to
relieve Brown of his duties from the media before the post-match
interviews.
However, the 41-year-old, New Romney based stopper - who pulled off some
fantastic saves in today's game - clearly stated he wants the Dover job.
Hyde said: "We've done the worse we could do today and gone down 2-1 to the
team bottom of the league and taken their place.
"I've just heard about Steve Browne so it's news to me but the atmosphere
in the changing room - as much as we created chances - we've let them have more
than enough chances to win a game away from home as well and you can't play
football that way.
"If you were a neutral watching that game it was end to end, box to box,
great excitement, lots of opportunities - but for us it's just not good enough
really."
It's not good enough for the long-suffering fans, who almost accepted defeat
from the very first whistle, and if it wasn't for the vocal travelling
supporters then the clash between the two basement clubs would have been played
out in silence.
The Crabble faithful are now anticipating their third successive relegation -
unless the new man in charge can produce championship winning form and a miracle
from somewhere to keep the Whites in the division.
Hyde, however, who returned to the side in last week's 2-1 Bryco Cup defeat
against AFC Wimbledon last Saturday, made his first appearance since injuring
himself in the FA Cup defeat against the same side in September.
"I'm just getting back fitness and sharpness wise and now I feel
good," he added.
"It was a busy afternoon, I've made some difficult saves in the first half
but it's just been disappointing to be away for so long and it's good to get
back - somewhat late."
The experienced goalkeeper, however, put his hat in the ring for the manager's
job - although Parmenter has already got a replacement lined up, it seems.
When asked if he would take the job, the experienced stopper added: "I've
been for the job once before. I would have loved to have the job then - so
we'll have a chat with the chairman and see.
"He's not talking to me - I've only just this second heard about Steve
Brown so it's massive speculation."
Hyde admitted today's defeat puts the club one step nearer to relegation but at
the same time he would use the remainder of this season to give the club's
youngsters a chance to prove their worth.
"I think this season's going to be a miracle to stave off relegation this
year," he said.
"I think we've got to look at what we've got now within the club.
"Of course I'll be more than interested to promote a few of the youngsters
to see if they are good enough for next year.
"I am at the club until the end of the season and whether I am playing in
goal or doing an added job - which would be a bonus - I don't know.
"This club has got to go onwards and upwards now.
"If not this year, it will be next year.
"We've got to get somebody in place that's Dover through and through and
can promote the club."
However, fans who think they will walk the first division should remember so did
the followers of Bromley, Dulwich Hamlet and Tooting & Mitcham - all big
clubs - but they still remain in that division trying to regain their premier
place.
So how did it go wrong against the K's ?
Both goalkeepers were tested as early as the opening four minutes with Hyde
pushing K's player-manager Scott Steele's 22-yard free kick around the post and
at the other end, his opposite number, Nick Hart made a smart dive to deny Paul
Armstrong after he raced through the middle of the visiting defence.
The visitors had a goal ruled out for a foul - which defender Dean Reading's
jumped up only to head into his own net on the goal-line but Hyde turned back
the clock to pull of save after save to deny the visitors until the 24th minute.
Steele produced a quality flag kick which Hyde failed to punch clear at his near
post and in the scramble a chance came bouncing back off the crossbar and lively
striker Kenny Ojukwa nodded home from close range at the far post to send the
vocal travelling contingent wild.
The goalscoring hero caused havoc down the left hand side before setting up a
chance for his manager, whose first shot was blocked but he still managed to
have a second opportunity, which rolled narrowly wide of the far post.
Dover, however, will rue two headed missed chances in as many minutes after half
an hour.
Armstrong delivered a superb cross from the left which Nick Grime somehow,
agonisingly sent a header over the bar from only two yards before Dean Palmer's
cross from the right was flicked wide by Victor Rennor at the far post.
Ojukwa stroked the ball to Steele and his left footed drive was cleared off the
line by Daniel Braithwaite and seconds later Jamie Palmer flexed his muscles in
his neck to produce a firm header which Hyde produced another fantastic save to
tip over the bar.
This was billed as a must-win game for both sides and Dover, at least, started
the second half with the intension to salvage something from the game.
Within 48 seconds of the re-start they had the ball in the back of Hart's
net. Armstrong was rulled to be offside when he headed over the goalkeeper
after receiving the ball from former Bromley midfielder Gavin Rose.
Shortly afterwards, Stuart Maynard's shot from inside the D, crashed against
Kingstonain's crossbar and out to safety. It summed up Dover's season.
Dover captain Craig Cloke lifted the ball up field for Armstrong - who brought
the ball under control - before hitting it on the volley but the shot from
outside the penalty area flashed wide.
Two minutes before the visitors sealed their vital victory, Braithwaite's
cross-come-shot from the left flank, some 25-yards from goal, beat Hart but
clipped the crossbar.
Kingstonian, however, settled the game when Dave Timothy and Lewis Hamilton
combined on the right to send Ojukwa on his way down the flank and he managed to
deliver a cross, which was only cleared by the Dover defence to K's skipper Giles Coke
who struck the ball powerfully with his right foot
giving Hyde no chance as it flew into the bottom right hand corner of the net.
Half-way through the second half, Hart made a fine save, getting down low to his
right to keep out Jude Sterling's 30-yard shot.
With 12 minutes to go, Hyde pulled off another excellent save, getting down low
to push Ojukwa's low shot around the post.
Dover's fans, however, had something to celebrate three minutes later when Rose
won possession some thirty yards from goal and played a defence splitting pass
for gangly Palmer - there was no flag - and with only Hart to beat, he coolly
slotted home inside the foot of the right post.
Unfortunately for Dover it was too little too late and cost Browne his job and
maybe the club's place in the division.
Dover
Athletic: Paul Hyde, Dean Readings, Craig Cloke (Capt), Dean Palmer, Jude
Sterling, Daniel Braithwaite, Stuart Maynard (Shane Hamshare 76), Gavin Rose.
Paul Armstrong, Victor Renner, Nick Grime. Subs: Ricky Spiller, Tom
Hickman, Paul Rogers
Kingstonian: Nick Hart, Lewis Hamilton, Bashiru Alimi, Robert Paris, Giles Coke
(Capt), Dave Timothy, Jamie Palmer (Luke Muldowney 55), Kenny Ojukwa, Scott
Steele (Martyn Lee 79), James Rose (Phil Ruggles 90). Subs: Steve Sanders,
Maxin Ahmad
Attendance: 644
Referee: John Rowbury
Assistants: Andrew Carter, Keith Stone